Photographer's Note

Cluj-Napoca (Klausenburg, Kolozsvár, Castrum Clus, Claudiopolis), commonly known as Cluj, is the second most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest (324 km / 201 mi), Budapest (351 km / 218 mi) and Belgrade (322 km / 200 mi). Located in the Someşul Mic River valley, the city is considered the unofficial capital to the historical province of Transylvania. In 1790–1848 and 1861–1867, it was the official capital of the Grand Principality of Transylvania.
As of 2011, 309,136 inhabitants live within the city limits, marking a decrease from the figure recorded at the 2002 census. The Cluj-Napoca metropolitan area has a population of 392,562 people, while the population of the peri-urban area exceeds 400,000 residents. The new metropolitan government of Cluj-Napoca became operational in December 2008. Lastly, according to the 2007 data provided by the County Population Register Service, the total population of the city is as high as 392,276 people. However, this number does not include the floating population of students and other non-residents—an average of over 20,000 people each year during 2004–2007, according to the same source.
The city spreads out from St. Michael's Church in Unirii Square, built in the 14th century and named after the Archangel Michael, the patron saint of Cluj-Napoca. The boundaries of the municipality contain an area of 179.52 square kilometres (69.31 sq mi). An analysis undertaken by the real estate agency Profesional Casa indicates that, because of infrastructure development, communes such as Feleacu, Vâlcele, Mărtineşti, Jucu and Baciu will eventually become neighbourhoods of the city, thereby enlarging its area.
Today, the city is one of the most important academic, cultural, industrial and business centres in Romania. Among other institutions, it hosts the country's largest university, Babeş-Bolyai University, with its famous botanical garden; nationally renowned cultural institutions; as well as the largest Romanian-owned commercial bank. According to the American magazine InformationWeek, Cluj-Napoca is quickly becoming Romania's technopolis.

Hello Daniel!
Excellent image, well composed with the dark silhouette of the arch that frames the landscape in the background! Very beautiful light, beautiful, even the architecture of the street!
Best regards, Nino.

Hello Daniel - Super shot, the contrasting shadows and light work very atmospherically here and you have managed the light well. I like the reflected light in the dark alley which leads so perfectly to the two girls. Warm regards rosemary

Hello Daniel,
It's nice to see a picture from this city, where I spent a few days two years ago. You have captured quite well the intimate atmosphere among its narrow back-lanes. Although generally maybe not as attractive as Sibiu or Brasov, Cluj-Napoca to my mind has the liveliest and most stimulating spirit of Romanian cities, thanks probably to the tens of thousands of students from all over Europe making the city more cosmopolitan than most others.
Best regards,
Gert

A good 'through' view of the arch over the alley with well managed lighting in a tricky situation. Excellent color & saturation with the people adding scale & superb use of diminishing linear perspective & the bg church nicely positioned over the vanishing point. Tfs!